What is Baccarat?

Baccarat is a casino game with many similarities to Blackjack but even easier to play. It is a very passionate card game, where only two games are dealt: the dealer and the player.

The main goal of the game is to reach a total of 9 points and these can be obtained after throwing two or three cards. Each card has its own score and each player is free to bet on the hand they think will win the hand: the one held by the player, the dealer or whether it will be a tie between the player and the dealer.

This game became known worldwide as James Bond's favorite casino game. However, in the movie “Casino Royale”, Baccarat was then replaced by a poker game, Texas Hold’Em Poker.

The origin of Baccarat

The name Baccarat comes from the Italian word “baccara” which means zero and this reveals the worst possible hand in this card game. Baccarat emerged in the 15th century and was taken to France, where it became the favorite game of French nobles and aristocrats, later becoming a banking game in the halls of European high rollers. Since then, it hasn't stopped growing and can be played in any casino worldwide. Currently, in online casinos, Baccarat is a successful game worldwide and attracts thousands of new players every year.

Baccarat basic rules

Baccarat is a game of numbers and luck and is very easy to learn and play by everyone. However, to do it correctly, a player needs to have a clear idea about the rules of Baccarat. Here we will give you an overall perspective of the basic rules of Baccarat so you can succeed. They are:

The strongest hand

The main goal of Baccarat is to have the strongest hand, gathering a set of cards that approach the number 9. As such, it follows a specific scoring system:

The Ace is worth one point;

Cards 2 through 9 retain their value;

10 and face cards (Kings, Queens, and Jacks) count for nothing and are worth 0;

The joker is not part of the game and as such is not counted;

If a player is dealt an 8 or a 9, he will have a natural hand and automatically win, unless the dealer also has an 8 or 9;

If the player has two cards in his possession that count for more than 9 points, the player has to subtract 10 points from that value. For example, if you have 14 points, your total will be only 4, since values above 9 must be deducted from 10 points.

The betting system

To start playing Baccarat, it's enough for a certain player to challenge the bank. Afterwards, all other players can bet on different areas of the gaming table. There are three types of bets that can be placed:

1. Banking bets: each player is free to bet their chips into the banker's hand and, as such, needs to place their bet on the area of the table which is identified by the text “banker”. This bet is paid in a 2 to 1 ratio, according to the initial stake, minus a 5% commission to the bank.
2. Bets on the player: the player can bet their chips on the player himself and can do this by entering the bet in the area of the table which is identified by the text “Player”. Normally, this bet is paid in a 2 to 1 ratio, according to the player's initial bet amount.
3. Tie bets: this is the most unlikely outcome in Baccarat and that's why it's a bet that pays out in a 9 to 1 ratio, according to the amount of the initial bet. To do this, the player must place his bet in the middle area of the table, between the bank and player area.

The third card

Depending on the player's and banker's hands, a third card may or may not appear. The removal of the third card obeys the following criteria:

If the player or the bank totals 8 or 9 points in their hand, it means that it is not necessary to draw the third card and the winner will be whoever came closest to the value 9;

If the sum of the player's hand is between 0 and 5, a third card will be dealt to the player. According to the value of the third card and the sum of the banker's hand, the dealer can draw a third card to define the final result.

Play live online Baccarat 

Baccarat is one of the favorite casino games for players, who consider this game to offer the best odds among all table games. Live dealer baccarat makes the game even more interesting as the software used by the casino gives players the opportunity to see the game in real time.

One of the most appealing aspects of live dealer baccarat is the fact that it offers a social component that is not present in regular baccarat that is played online. In this modern version of the game, players can not only interact with a real dealer, they can also interact with other players. The interface used in live dealer baccarat is very similar to that of baccarat played against the computer. The big difference is that in live games players have the possibility to chat through a chat. When the player writes a message, the dealer will read it and respond using a microphone so that all players can hear the response, which makes the whole process much more interactive and personalized. The fact that players can interact with a human dealer makes the live dealer baccarat gaming experience superior to any baccarat game that is played against a computer. Add to that the welcome bonuses that are offered by online casinos, playing live online baccarat becomes even better than playing in Las Vegas!

Based on the opinion of hundreds of experienced casino players, we can tell you that one of the best experiences in the online gaming world is the one offered by live dealer baccarat so be sure to check out the best offers we've gathered exclusively for you! You'll soon discover that live online baccarat is a truly fascinating experience that offers some of the best odds of any casino table game.